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Making/Modifying a USB Hub Answered

I'm currently designing an accessory for my computer which will house 4 USB ports as a USB Hub. The issue i've got is I need to be able to contain the whole USB Hub in an area that is only 22mm deep and 170mm wide.

I've taken a cheap USB Hub apart to see what it was like and I have run into a few issues.

The main one is that the total depth of the PCB to the end of the USB Ports is 35mm, 13mm over the size I need. The next issue is that I need room to place a screw between the USB Ports, 2 either side. These screws have a width of 3mm and a head size of 5mm. Putting a hole like that in the PCB would break and short the connections.

8 Replies

Desolder the USB jacks/sockets off of the circuit board. Just attach wire jumpers to extend it. I'm sure it's not the optimal design if you are concerned about signal loss/crosstalk etc but hot glue/epoxy everything to the case. You might be able to shave a bit off the circuit board if it still doesn't fit in your confines or mount it slanted in the case.

Thanks, hadn't actually thought of that. Means I can put the circuitry on one side and the ports on the other whilst keeping the height down.

I've also got what looks to be a power in port on the left (black box to the right of chip) Do you think I can simply remove that without it affecting the circuitry. No idea why its there anyway as its a USB powered hub

Some of the USB ports on your PC may be non-powered, no +-5volts but still have the USB signals. Some USB ports/hubs can be externally powered with a wall wart adapter. In those cases like if you plug in a humungus external USB hard drive, it might take more power than the PC motherboard provides so sometimes they have a dual USB cord to suck off more power.